Briefing at 0500 hours on the morning of 14 October 1943 brought the
crews of the 92nd
Bomb Group news they didn’t want to hear: “It’s Schweinfurt
again!” The same message was
being repeated in USAAF bomb group briefing rooms all over eastern England
in the early
hours of what was to become forever known as “Black Thursday’~

Responding to intelligence indicating increasing Luftwaffe fighter strength,
the decision was taken to attack the ball-bearing plant at Schweinfurt
for the second time in three months. Over 400 Fortresses and Liberators
would make the 920 mile, seven hour trip - 370 miles of the journey without
fighter escort - in an all-out effort to stem the flow of new fighters
reaching Luftwaffe front line units.

The 92nd Bomb Group’s mission leader, Colonel Budd Peaslee knew
the score: As soon as the escorting P-47 Thunderbolts reached their maximum
range and turned for home, the loitering Luftwaffe fighters would pounce.
And so it was on that crisp autumn day. The moment the fighters departed
some 400 enemy fighters ripped into the vulnerable bomber formations spewing
rockets and cannon; the B- 17 gunners made valiant attempts to repel the
onslaught, but the result was carnage. For three hours the surviving bombers
thundered on, their ranks thinning as continuing enemy attacks pressed
home. Just 12 of the 92nd’s 21 aircraft made it through to the target.
Turning for home the weary crews knew they had to face the flak and enemy
fighters all the way home until within range of Allied escort fighters.
The USAAF’s 1st Division alone lost 60 Fortresses with 600 men missing
before the day was out.

Robert Taylor’s majestic new painting shows Colonel Budd Peaslee’s
B-17 Equipose, piloted by Kemp McLaughlin, leading the Fortresses of the
92nd Bomb Group en-route to the vital ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt.
High over Germany, beyond the range of Allied fighter cover, the unprotected
B-17s come under relentless attack from enemy fighters. Losses are high.
Undeterred, the valiant crews press on to the target, their determination
and courage on that “Black Thursday” forever etched into aviation
folklore.

THE LIMITED EDITION Individually numbered 1 - 500
Each print has been signed by the following THREE pilots, all veterans
of the second Schweinfurt mission on 14 October 1943, including the mission
command pilot Kemp Maclaughlin. Every print is also signed by the artist
Robert Taylor, and individually hand numbered.

THE SCHWEINFURT EDITION Individually numbered 1 - 325
The SCHWEINFURT EDITION has also been individually signed by
an additional seven veterans from the second Schweinfurt mission. There
are a
total of TEN signatures in this edition, plus the artist Robert Taylor.